Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article redefines the role of abstraction in care ethics, overturning the notion that abstraction is inherently an impersonal and distancing mechanism. By situating abstraction within the context of caring relationships it reveals how abstraction can cultivate human connection when grounded in moral motivation and contextual sensitivity. The article’s primary contribution is the introduction of two concepts: conceptual abstraction, which captures the shift from detailed specificity to broader generalizations, and contextual abstraction, which examines how abstraction either fosters closeness or creates distance in relationships. While the discussion initially focuses on the level of deliberation, the article concludes by exploring if and how abstraction can also be meaningfully employed at the level of justification.
Source: Hypatia
Author: Mimmi Norgren Hansson
Institution: Umeå University
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W4415836403